Sunday January 15, 2017
“Slave or Free”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever
commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the
house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you
shall be free indeed (John 8:34-36).
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not
to do, that I practice (Romans 7:19).
God’s Broken Image
II. Man under the dominion of sin and
death
Genesis 4:7 paints the picture of sin as a wild animal waiting to pounce
upon its hapless victim. The same truth appears in different words in the
teaching of Jesus: everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin (John 8:34). Paul
emphasizes the same point in Romans: men are under sin, slaves.
As a consequence, men are powerless. Even when the will is strong, yet ‘the
evil I do not want, is what I keep on doing (Romans 7:19).
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not
subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be (Romans 8:6-7)
Challenge: Check your
strongest “inclination.” What is it? What motivates you to do it? Do you feel
like you’re “free” to act or are you driven to do them by a stronger passion?
Passion to please “self”? Passion or desire to please God? Take some time to
re-evaluate your heart. Ask God the Holy Spirit to show you what is going on in
the deeper recesses of your soul.
This Day in Christian History:
Jan 15, 1941 – The day missionary Dick Hill was
taken away from his wife, Margaret Hill,
due to illness in China. Japan was invading and the town they were in was told
to evacuate. Fearing for the survival of their young children, Margaret stayed
behind. She found comfort from the verses from her daily calendar. God
preserved them and encouraged them daily with each Bible verse (Psalm 56:9-11).
Memory Verse: (Sun Jan 15)
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of
His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren – Romans 8:29
He ko kinautolu na‘a ne toka mea‘i, na‘a ne toka tu‘utu‘uni foki ke nau
hokosi ‘a e ‘īmisi ‘o hono ‘Alo; koe‘uhi ke ne ta‘okete ki he tehina tokolahi – Loma 8:29
Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)
Week 3 – Gen 28-29; Mark 11
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